Maid For The Arrogant Billionaire

CHAPTER.2

CARA

“Ugh,” I groaned, letting out my frustration for the tenth time since arriving home from the charity auction. But nothing could have prepared me for the sight that greeted me upon entering my room.

I squeezed my eyes so tight, willing back the tears that were threatening to spill over.

“Oh God, what happened here?” I whispered hoping it was not what I was thinking. No one was around to give me an answer, anyway.

My room which I left tidy was in shambles as if a storm had swept through it. It was evident that someone had been searching for something here something important, perhaps seeing as the room was turned upside down. I knew exactly who was behind the chaos.

Mr. Graham, my father.

I felt like I was hit by a train when I remembered that I had stashed a good amount of money from my savings, money I had worked so hard for to save up for my tuition which I safely tucked away in a satchel under my wardrobe. Panic surged within me as I rushed to retrieve it, only to find the spot empty. My heart sank, and I twisted my face in despair. I felt the first drop of tears on my face, then the second and third before I started wailing full-time. Three months of juggling multiple jobs, all while trying to keep food on the table and the household afloat, and the small money I saved from it was nowhere to be found.

Fighting against the urge to scream, I bolted downstairs to the sitting room. There I saw my father, slumped on the couch, looking so wasted with the most annoying smirk I’ve ever seen. There was a lady half-naked in his arms. I squeezed my face in disgust and wondered how on earth she found him attractive. He looked at me with that mischievous smirk while raising his leg and placing it on the center table. He was so nonchalant, he took a drag of his cigarette and puffed the smoke lazily into the air annoying me further.

My eyes widened in disbelief, my jaw hanging open as the reality of what had happened sank in. I opened my mouth to say something and the half-dressed woman beat me to it “Ben is this the infuriating workaholic daughter you told me about?” My jaw nearly hit the floor. I turned to my father, huffing and puffing in anger

“What? Infuriating daughter? How dare you talk about me like that to a stranger! And you, Ms. Whatever-Your-Name-Is, how dare you speak to me like that in my own home?”.

My father rose to his feet and towered over me, “Do not disrespect my guest,” he said, with a firm tone.

“You want to talk about disrespect? I pay all the bills in this house! I work myself to the bone trying to keep us afloat, juggling my dreams while still trying to pay off your debts, and you lecture me about disrespect?”

“Do you even know what disrespect is? Stealing the money I saved up for my tuition now that’s disrespect!”

In an instant, the air shifted. A thunderous slap echoed through the room, and my cheeks burned with an intensity I had never felt before. I always knew my father was abusive, emotionally, and financially but he had never laid a hand on me or gone physical until now. With tears stinging my eyes, I felt a rush of emotion as they made their way down my cheeks.

My hands were trembling as I brought it up and cupped my face in disbelief, looking up at him with anger and pain. My heart felt as if it were broken into a million pieces. I turned away, retreating into my room, engulfed with pain at the fact that the person who was supposed to protect me was making life harder for me

I jumped on my bed, suddenly remembering my mother with a strong ache in my chest. I was just a child when she passed away, and I always believed that if she was still alive my life would have been so different. The money I had sacrificed to save for my upcoming three months of business management night classes had vanished in an instant, leaving me feeling lost.

Determined to regain some sense of order, I started tidying my room, carefully removing every shard of glass that was broken. I felt a moment of happiness when I realized that my mother's picture frame was still very much intact.

“At least something good today” I whispered into the air like someone was listening.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts. The words on the screen hit me like a blow: “We are sorry, we cannot hire you as you did not meet our criteria for hire.” I had forgotten I applied for other jobs and was waiting to receive emails with their response.

The rejection stung, it was the fifth time I was being rejected. I laughed out loud “Well, I guess I’m stuck with Mr. Boyd,” I could not imagine going back to the diner, it was the worst place I’ve ever worked and with the worst manager ever.

I quickly finished tidying my room and took a quick shower after carefully removing my makeup to wash away all the tears, and hoping the disappointments would follow suit.

“I better get my sorry ass to work”, I muttered

It was a night shift seeing as my night ended early and the restaurant ran for 24 hours

I silently stepped out of the house, I was already very tired and did not want to start another argument with my father and his companion who already had bloodshot eyes and were drawing the obvious effects of the drugs that they had been taking. At that moment, I felt hate and resentment like never before and concluded that I was going to do everything in my power to leave this house.

Turning onto the narrow, dimly lit alley behind our house,

I walked the lonely path alone not paying attention to my surroundings until I heard strong footsteps that sounded like it was following me.

“Who would be out of their house by this time” I muttered.

I quickened my pace, my footsteps echoing against the pavement, but the shadows lingered, matching the same stride with me. Each time I took a turn to the left or right, they followed me.

I felt my body surge with adrenaline and broke into a run, I turned onto a road with a brighter street light and felt hope that I was going to escape and almost immediately I felt something hard and cold collide and press into my back, making me stop abruptly. I felt so scared and wondered if this was the end for me. The cold metal was pressed against my neck, sending chills and shivers throughout my body as I realized indeed that it was a gun

“I see we've got you,” a voice very dark and chilling said in a taunting manner.

“Stop wriggling and trying to escape or I'll shoot you”. I heard the sickening voice again.

I was confused and torn between accepting my fate and remaining calm or shouting for help.

“Who are you and what do you want from me”? I asked choosing to remain calm

“ you don't need to know who we are, your father is drowning in debt that he owes us and has put you up as collateral”.

“He said he had a very beautiful daughter and my oh my did he not lie”?

“Well we have no business with you for now, we just want to warn you of what will happen to you if you do not repay us what your father is owing”.

I felt my parched throat tighten and aching as beads of sweat trickled down my forehead. So many thoughts ran through my mind at that moment, but one thought loomed larger than the rest: where on earth was I going to find the money they demanded?

I was so tempted to plead for mercy but deep down I understood the harsh truth, they were not the type to show mercy especially when it had to do with a lot of money. For the second time that night, I found myself wishing for the ground to open up and swallow me

"Okay, I'll try to make the money my father owes available to you," I said reluctantly, my voice shaky.

"You had better," replied the second man, who appeared less intimidating.

The man holding me released me forcefully, shoving me aside violently. He then corked his pistol and aimed it at a nearby stray cat, shooting it before they left.

“What a psycho”.

. As soon as they were gone, my legs gave way, and I collapsed like a deflated balloon. My eyes still widened in fear, my nostrils flared, chest rose and fell rapidly. The only way I could breathe was by opening my mouth wide and gasping as if my life depended on it.

For the first time since I had seen her mother's lifeless body in the hospital, I experienced a panic attack.